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Juliette Whittaker

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Juliette Whittaker
Whittaker after making her first Olympic team at the 2024 U.S. trials
Personal information
Born (2003-12-01) December 1, 2003 (age 20)
Laurel, Maryland, U.S.
EducationStanford University
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)800 m, 1500 m
University teamStanford Cardinal
Coached byJ.J. Clark
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • 800 m: 1:57.76 (Paris 2024)
  • 1500 m: 4:12.49 (Walnut 2023)
  • Indoor
  • 800 m: 1:59.53 (Boston 2024)
  • Mile: 4:30.92 (Boston 2024)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World U20 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Cali 800 m

Juliette Whittaker (born December 1, 2003) is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. She is a two-time NCAA 800 m champion and qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Athletics career

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High School

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Whittaker attended Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland from 2018 to 2022, where she rose to prominence winning numerous state and national titles and setting multiple state and national records.

2021

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As a junior in 2021, Whittaker ran under 2:02 in the 800 m six-times and competed at the US Olympic trials, reaching the semi-final. At the Brooks PR Invitational in July, she won the mile in a time of 4:38.65, the fastest time of any high schooler in 2021.[1]

2022

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In May 2022, Whittaker became only the second high schooler (behind Mary Cain), to break the 2-minute barrier in the 800 m, by clocking a time of 1:59.80 to beat a field of professionals at Icahn Stadium in New York City. The following month, she broke Cain's high school national record of 1:59.51, running a time of 1:59.04 to win the USA U20 Championships at Hayward Field. In August, Whittaker competed at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. There she won a bronze medal in 2:00.18, only behind fellow Stanford commit Roisin Willis and Swiss athlete Audrey Werro, who both ran under the previous championships record.[2]

Stanford University

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2023

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In fall 2022, Whittaker enrolled at Stanford University, joining the Stanford Cardinal track and field and cross country teams. At the 2023 NCAA Championships, Whittaker contested the individual 800 m as well as the 4 × 400 m relay and the distance medley relay. In the 800 m, she placed second, going 1–2 with fellow Stanford freshman Roisin Willis in a time of 2:00.05. She also anchored the Stanford DMR to a first-place finish and ran the third leg on the twelfth place Cardinal 4 × 400 m relay team.[3][4][5]

During the 2023 outdoor season, Whittaker won the Pac-12 800 m title, but chose to contest the 1500 m at the NCAA West Regional Qualifier. However, she failed qualify for the NCAA Championship after placing eighth in her heat.

After the track season, Whittaker signed an NIL deal with On.[6]

2024

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Choosing to contest the 800 m at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships, she won her first NCAA individual title in an indoor personal best of 1:59.53, also breaking the meet record.[7] She went on to win the 800 m at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1:59.61, a new Stanford record. She also become the first person to win both the NCAA indoor and outdoor 800 titles in the same year since Oregon’s Raevyn Rogers in 2017[8]

Juliette Whitaker earned a spot on the United States Olympic team by finishing third in the women's 800 meters at the national trials on June 23, 2024, in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 1:58.45.[9] At the Olympics, she ran a personal best of 1:57.76 in her semi-final. She went on place 7th in the final.[10]

Personal life

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Her parents Paul and Jill, both ran in college. Paul was a mid-distance runner and Jill was a hurdler. One of four siblings, her sister Isabella Whittaker competes as a sprinter and ran collegiately for both the University of Pennslyvania and the University of Arkansas.[11] Her father, Paul, coaches her and an all boys high school track team, Mount Saint Joseph in Baltimore Maryland. [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Mount de Sales senior Juliette Whittaker runs away with 2021–22 Baltimore Sun high school girls Athlete of the Year honor". Baltimore Sun. June 28, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Hollobaugh, Jeff. "2022 HS Girls Athlete Of The Year — Juliette Whittaker". Track & Field News. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ^ LetsRun.com. "2023 NCAA Indoor Day 1 Women's Recap: NCAA Records Galore & Stanford's Freshman Phenoms Win the DMR". LetsRun.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "Results and Highlights From the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships". Runner's World. March 12, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "TFRRS | Juliette Whittaker – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Chavez, Chris (July 8, 2023). "Juliette Whittaker Signs NIL With On". CitiusMag. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Whittaker Wins NCAA Title". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  8. ^ https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/06/sophomores-take-top-800-meter-spots-at-ncaa-championships
  9. ^ "After Athing Mu Fall, Nia Akins Captures 800 Final at US Olympic Trials". MSN Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "800 metres Women". World Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Smith, Conor. "Penn track and field Isabella Whittaker to transfer to Arkansas for graduate eligibility". The Daily Pennslyvanian.
  12. ^ Mull, Cory (March 13, 2020). "The Sisters From Maryland You Should Know About". Milesplit. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
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